Lubbock Fire and EMS Working Together
By: Brittany Escobar
Updated: October 1, 2012
Before the Lubbock fire and EMS pact was approved if a fire fighter was on the scene before EMS they were able to perform basic patient assessment including CPR, but after that they were pretty much stuck.Today they are able to take it a step further and save a life.
For first responders it's a matter or life or death in some situations.
"We certainly feel its going to be a lot safer for people who live here in town," said Eric Finley with UMC.
He said EMS is on the scene first about 70 percent of the time, the other 30 goes to The Lubbock Fire Department.
"This means that if they arrive there first they'll be able to start doing some of these techniques that previously they weren't able to do before," he said.
October 1st marks day one where certified and trained fire paramedics are able to perform advanced life support.
"If its a fire truck before an ambulance and we can provide that type of care and it makes it better that's our whole goal," said fire Captain Chris Addington.
He said though a grant and with the approval of the city---Lubbock fire is now has the equipment to administer medications, ivies and cardiac care.
"My whole thing is should we have an ambulance that's delayed we can perform that skill a head of time to where normally wed have to wait on to where we are a head of the game so when EMS gets there we can hand them off just like we always have," said Addington
Both Addington and Finley agree on one thing.
"Its going to make Lubbock safer," said Finley.
"The whole thing is providing better care to the citizens," said Addington.
And the two say that's their main focus.
"We work as a team all the time and I think this just provides another piece of the puzzle to provide one more step to providing better patient care," said Addington.
